Roof leaking? There may be trouble brewing under the snow on your roof

Warm attics, cold outside temps

and too much snow are the perfect recipe

for “ice dams,” water leaks,

and then mold problems

If your roof is leaking, chances are “ice dams” have been forming under your snow-packed roof, sending water through the cracks, into your home. Assuming you can spot the leak, simply catching the dripping water with pails, or mopping it up, is just the start of your troubles. It’s the mold that comes after the leak that’s going to cause the most damage to your home, and possibly your health.

Explains Robert Weitz, a certified microbial investigator: “An ice dam is a ridge of ice on the edge of a sloping roof that prevents melting snow from draining off the roof. With the buildup, the water formed by the melting snow has no place to go, except into your home.” It is this water that causes damage to your home’s structure – walls, ceilings, insulation – in addition to your carpets, furniture and drapes. Once that happens, it doesn’t take long for mold to take hold – less than 24 hours for a new colony to be established.

Weitz, also a principal at RTK Environmental Group of Stamford and Newington, CT, New York City, and Boston, MA, says that there are more than 100,000 different types of molds. When inhaled, mold spores can cause chronic allergies, headaches, fatigue, skin rashes, throat and eye irritations, wheezing, and many respiratory problems including asthma.

Immediate action is required, both indoors and out. Weitz suggests:

Indoors:

1. Take a picture of the damage, and remove the water immediately. Don't wait for your insurance company to call you back. Waiting — even for a few hours — could accentuate your water and mold damage.
2. Some items, once wet, should be thrown away immediately. This includes food, cosmetics, medical supplies, stuffed animals, and baby toys.
3. If a material cannot be dried within 24 hours, it should be tossed. Unfortunately, this list includes mattresses, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, and items containing paper, including wallboard.
4. Snow melts on the warmer parts of the roof, but as it travels down the roof toward the eaves, it begins freezing instead of draining, which causes ice dams to form. To avoid this, keep attic air temperature below freezing when the outside temperatures are in the 20s. To do this, seal any air leaks in the ceiling below your attic floor, making it as airtight as possible to keep warm, moist air flowing from the house into the attic. Once sealing is complete, you can also increase the insulation on the attic floor.

Outdoors:

1. Unfortunately, it’s easy to cause damage to your roof shingles, so it’s wise not to routinely remove snow from the roof. And never chip away the ice from an ice dam.
2. Have a contractor remove snow from the roof. But be warned that some tools, such as roof rakes, can cause damage to the roofing materials. If you do it yourself, choose a rake with wheels.
3. If water is leaking into your home, hire a contractor to make channels through the ice dam.
4. Be sure gutters are clean and free of leaves. Clean gutters will not prevent ice dams, but they offer a place for the water to go.

If you have water damage this winter, a company which tests for mold, such as RTK Environmental Group, can conduct air monitoring and surface sampling tests; identify affected areas and measure the amount of mold; and determine if the health of your family is at risk. For more information, or to contact RTK, visit www.RTKEnvironmental.com, or call 1-800-392-6468.

About RTK Environmental Group

RTK Environmental Group, with offices in Stamford, CT; Newington, CT; New York City; and Boston, MA, is one of the most trusted environmental testing service firms in the New York metropolitan area. It has provided testing services to more than 12,000 commercial and residential customers, ranging from homeowners and real estate investors to medical centers and housing authorities and many others. Company professionals are certified, licensed, and fully insured, and on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The public is invited to visit its Web site, www.rtkenvironmental.com.